The evil eye (“Vaskania”):

The Evil Eye, or what the Greek Orthodox Church calls “Vaskania”, is a Greek superstition that says that just by looking at someone with envy, a person can harm you, your house, your children, your livestock or any other personal belongings. To ward off the evil eye, the Greeks wear little blue-eyed trinkets like necklaces and bracelets. Blue stones can also protect you from the evil eye, because in Greece the color blue is considered a protective color. Also, the Greeks place a cactus at the entrance of their house to ward off the evil eye.

Garlic (σκÏŒρδο/”Skorda”):

Garlic not only wards off the evil eye, but also keeps evil spirits and demons away. It’s not uncommon to carry a head of garlic in your purse or see it hanging in restaurants, stores, and homes. Also, it is considered to have healing power and when someone is sick, they are recommended to eat garlic.

“Piase Kokkino”:

If two Greeks say the phrase “Piase Kokkino” (meaning “red touch” in English) at the same time, they must immediately touch any red items around them. Saying the same thing at the same time is an omen in Greece, and they believe that if they don’t immediately touch something red, the two of them will end up fighting or arguing.

sneezes:

Sneezing, in Greece, means that someone is talking about you. They have even devised a mathematical formula that allows you to calculate who is talking about you.

Tuesday 13:

In Greece, it is not Friday the 13th that is considered unlucky, but Tuesday the 13th.

to spit:

To prevent bad things from happening to you, spitting (three times) prevents that. Spitting away evil and also prevents misfortunes.

ravens:

Ravens are considered omens of misfortune and death in Greece. If you ever see a raven or hear it caw, you should say “Sto Kalo, Sto Kalo, Kala Nea na me Feris”, which means “go and bring me good news”.

Salt:

Salt can help you get rid of any unwanted guests in your home. Sprinkle salt behind the person because it contains powers that will drive them away. The Greeks also sprinkle a new house with salt as it will drive away evil spirits and demons.

Shoes:

It is considered bad luck and even a harbinger of death to leave shoes upside down, with the soles facing up. If you notice your shoes upside down, immediately turn them inside out and say “Skorda” (garlic), to ward off evil spirits.

Try to translate these superstitions into Greek and practice your Greek language skills. Do you know any other Greek superstitions? Tell us your superstition by leaving a comment below.